New Ulm weekly review., 1887-08-24

GHo SOIIOululuS COuuGIy was IL
fourishing condition, excellent
crops were harvested, when suddenly
the peaceable settlement was chan nged
into a battlefield.
The advance and bloody work of the saw
ages in the town Of Milford, seven miles
West Of New Ulm, having been some
what checked by the accidental excur-
sion of a recruiting party consisting Of
citizens of New Ulm, time was given
to prepare for the reception of the In
dians at New Clm, but with few arms
and inadequate ammunition it was a
hard task for the citizens and Pioneers
of the surrounding country who escaped
and focked into the town, to repel
the fierce attack of the 18th of Aug
ust. Knowing however that the lives
of all their loved ones and their cher
ished homes were at stake, the Pioneers,
who mostly consisted of Germans, rein
forced by q small mum Der who arrived
from St. Peter during the day made a
gallant defense SO that the savages were
forced to withdraw.
AS one of those, who at that time
were battling another enemy hundreds
Of miles away and who had no idea Of
what happened at their homes, he had
particular occassian, to offer to the bra.
very of the settlers and all those who
FASTENED to the defense of New Ulm
from other parts of the Minnesota val-
ley, the gratitude which their bravery so
we'll deserved, for # they had succumbed
the families of the absent Union SOL
diers would have shared the terrible
fate which was the sad lot of so many
families of frontiersmen.
AS it was evident that other outbreaks
of the hostiles would follow, it would
have probably been impossible to hold
the town without reinforcements and
therefore it is a solemn duty to tender
our Warmest thanks to those of our
fellow citizens who left their own homes
to assist in the defense of this place, for
after the Indians had in vain tried to
take Fort Ridgeley they returned more
determined than ever before, to wipe
out New Ulm and its defenders and
were on Tuesday, August oath, again re-
pulsed and withdrew, never to return
again.
During the weeks siege and fights
the town was reduced by fires to about
30 buildings, remaining in the center,
and as it was deemed impossible to
keep SO large a number OF people to-
gether with the limited accommoda-
tons and necessaries of life, it was de-
cided to evacuate the town, and on ac-
count of the limited means of transpor-
tation the inhabitants were forced to
leave, almost destitute of everything,
many never returning to their former
homes.
The speaker expressed his convention
that the recollections of those dark
days should be sufficient to bind the
survivors together, to stand by each
other in peace and friendship through
their remaining days, and referring to
a. beautiful poem dedicated to New Ulm
by General F. Sigel after the terrible
destruction by cyclone in 1881 he re-
cited the same and closed with the
following remarks in referrance to the
poem.
The encouraging words from such a
source are more than sufficient to out
weigh the calmunies which have,
in consequences of our great mig
fortunes, been repeated from time to
time even from the pulpit, notwitf-
standing the strongest proofs of their
injustice and falsity. That all cal.
munies and opposition cannot dis
pute the fact, that not only by the adj
herance to german customs and by
efforts to perpetuate the virtues of the
german character, but by the devotion
and patriotism to the country of their
adoption and particularly, BY the un-
ceasing efforts in the interest Of com.
mon schools and education, New Ulm
can hardly be surpassed.
Our satisfaction rests in our own
conscience, and boldly we can meet
those who in the hour of danger have
lent us their helping hand, and can as
sure them that their aid has not been
bestowed upon unworthy people, and
that in the hearts of every inhabitant Of
New Ulm q warm feeling of gratitude
will ever be nourished for the gallant
defenders of our town.
To confirm the sincerity of this feel.
! ing the speaker proposed to give the
defenders from abroad three hearty
cheers which were given with will
ana 3 tlger.
Gov. McGll being called upon, stat
led that like those who spoke before
him, he was compelled to- read from
manuscript, as he did not like to make
lengthy speeches without some aid. He
said that the Indian massacre enacted q
quarter Of q century ago was the mostre-
volting and fendish ever recorded ii
the history of savage races Occurring
at time when every effort had been
made in all the organized portions Of
the state to increase the enlistments
for the army operating against the rebel
lion in the south, the people were III
prepared to defend themselves from the
murderous assault. This community
as well as all the surrounding towns
was largely impoverished Of It's able.
bodied young men. There were neither
arms left in this portion 81 thal.stata,
nor men to bear them. AZ this time came
the attack, like IN ayalanche from Tie